Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The summer
of 2012 was the first time I ventured to Hermann Hill.I had run across their business after one of
my brother’s friends got married here, and I instantly fell in love with tons
of pictures on Facebook.At the time, I
was confused about the career path I wanted to go down, but Hermann Hill
Wedding Chapel had sparked my interest.I went for it, and emailed their website hoping to get a response from
one of their managers, and sure enough I did.Jill Winkelmann, wedding sales manager of Hermann Hill, had responded to
me, and asked me to come in and shadow a planning session with a new
couple.

I was so nervous and excited at the
same time.Butterflies filled my stomach
as I walked in the beautiful white building that lead into an intimate chapel
overlooking the Missouri river.The view
was even more breathtaking in person than in the hundreds of pictures I had
looked at before.I walked down the
staircase being surrounded by the many faces of past brides and grooms, all
with different and unique backdrops.Some by famous Hermann Hill sunsets, others under the gazebo, and
several “first glances” by the personal chapel (my favorite)!

I walked around the corner and down
a hallway into a small reception room.The tables and chairs were covered in white, and each was decorated with
a different color scheme.I turned to
the right, only to see a huge closet; open with every different color chair
sash imaginable.I was in love.

I still hadn’t seen the main reception
area, and Jill was going to be there soon, so I hurried to the final and
largest room.I saw a huge chandelier
in the middle of a high ceiling surrounded by smaller chandeliers, and
archways.It was one of the most beautiful
spaces I had ever laid eyes on.I turned
back around only to see a wooden bar with a mural of the Missouri river painted
overhead, and a coffee bar to the left.This was truly a place that had thought of EVERYTHING.

Jill met me around 10, and after
talking for a while, we met with a new Hermann Hill couple, and planned an
entire wedding in only a few hours. After that day, my love for Hermann Hill
never went away, and two years later, here I am interning at a place that feels
like a second home.

I went away to Missouri State
University, where I’m currently studying Hospitality & Restaurant
Administration.After my first few weeks
I found out about the mandatory internship I had to have to graduate.At first, I freaked out not knowing where to
go, but then I realized it was my chance to return to the place that inspired
me in the first place, Hermann Hill Vineyard, Inn & Spa, Wedding Chapel
& Riverbluff Cottages.I called
Leslie Foulke, general manager, and she had given me an answer within a few
days.I would be returning for the
summer of 2014.

The year went by slowly, but it was definitely
worth the wait.You couldn’t remove the
smile from my face as I met with Leslie, and Terry (Hermann Hill’s Innkeeper),
on my first day.They showed me around
the property that I remembered so well, with the addition of hundreds of
evergreen trees planted on the hillside.They explained to me about the jobs that I would be doing, and all of
the details I would learn about the industry, and the expectations they
had.

The summer has flown by. Between jobs like social media marketing,
wedding setup, learning about payroll, and even meetings about ideas that can
improve the business as a whole, I couldn’t be more thankful.If there is anything to regret about this summer
it’s the fact that it’s nearly over, and it’s time to say goodbye.This experience will stay with me forever,
and will continue to influence decisions I make in my future endeavors. I owe the world to Hermann Hill, and all of its
incredible employees; I will never be able to repay them for the friendships,
kindness and knowledge that they have bestowed upon me.Hermann Hill, “Where the Missouri and
Memories Meet;” not only is this statement true for all of our guests, but it
also holds true to me.